The Speaker of Parliament Prof Mike Ocquaye has said that he will rule on the Joe Ghartey Committee report on the bribery allegation against Parliament’s Appointment Committee will be delivered “in due course.”
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday (March 31, 2016) Prof Mike Ocquaye said he will not immediately rule on the matter at hand.
“Matters regarding ruling on the special committee findings and matters arising will be delivered in due course.”
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As part of recommendations by the Joe Ghartey committee, Mr Ayariga was asked to apologise to the House.
After several protestations, Ayariga who appeared dissatisfied with the committee's work said that "Mr Speaker if you say I should apologise, I apologise."
This half-hearted apology did not go down well with the majority side in the house, leading to exchange of words.
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The back and forth continued until the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye adjourned sitting to Friday.
Members from both sides converged in the middle with Sam George leading the onslaught for the Minority side.
But for the timely intervention of some other MPs and some staff of Parliament, there would have been a fierce exchange of blows.
Findings in the report
According to the report, Ayariga "failed to ascertain the veracity of the rumour prior to publishing same. The Committee further observed that as a result of the publication, trust and confidence among members and inter-party cohesion needed for consensus building at the Appointments Committee has broken down considerably."
"Individual members of the Appointments Committee had become suspicious of each other. The chairman of the appointments committee indicated his distrust for Mr Mahama Ayariga while Alhaji Muntaka stressed that it will be difficult to deal with his accusers."
"The reputation and image of the institution of Parliament has been greatly injured by the allegation. The reputation and dignity of the First Deputy Speaker, other members of the Appointments Committee and that of the Minister for Energy equally suffered considerable damage."
The report added: "As a results of these observations, the committee came to the firm conclusion that Mr Mahama Ayariga is in contempt of Parliament on the strength of Article 122 of the 1992 Constitution, Section 32 of the Parliament Act (1965) Act 300 and Orders 28 and 30 (2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
"The Committee came to this conclusion because Mr Mahama Ayariga failed to prove that indeed Hon. Boakye Agyarko gave money to Joseph Osei-Owusu to be distributed to members of the appointments committee with a view to bribe them."